The Dragons almost produced another Newcastle special in the European Challenge Cup, losing a 32-27 thriller at Kingston Park.

With head coach Bernard Jackman again opting to rest key personnel, a youthful visiting line-up had been written off ahead of a clash with a Falcons side soaring in the Aviva Premiership.

However, with less than 20 minutes left on the Kingston Park clock, the Men of Gwent were sensing an upset to rank alongside their stunning victory at the same ground in the same competition two years ago.

With man of the match Angus O’Brien pulling the strings at fly-half, the Dragons struck for three opportunist second-half tries to turn the game on its head.

But ultimately, the Falcons, with their well-drilled forward pack to the fore, possessed enough firepower to secure the win and a full house of points to open their Pool 1 challenge.

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Both sides had made significant changes from league defeats the previous weekends — the Falcons 11 from their loss at Exeter and the Dragons nine from their derby setback at the Arms Park.

The home side still boasted plenty of players with Premiership and international experience, including the midfield pairing of Toby Flood and Frenchman Maxime Mermoz, who was making his first start for his new club.

In contrast, there was another rookie feel to the Dragons line-up, particularly behind the scrum.

On the fast artificial surface at Kingston Park it was the Falcons who were out of the blocks early and their pressure was eventually rewarded with a try for prop Rob Vickers from a forward rumble.

O’Brien landed a long-range penalty for the visitors before Flood restored the seven-point advantage.

Another success from the Dragons’ fly-half made it 10-6 approaching half-time, but the visitors were hit by a sucker punch just before the break.

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After an attack broke down in Falcons’ territory, the ball was booted downfield; the visitors failed to deal with the danger and were duly punished when flying wing Adam Radwan was freed out wide.

Having missed an opportunity when wing George Gasson spilled a potential try-scoring pass just before the end of the first half, the Dragons were in need of some inspiration at the start of the second and it was provided in unlikely circumstances.

O’Brien hit the upright with a 30-metre penalty attempt, but when the visitors regathered, replacement lock Rynard Landman was sent rampaging over.

O’Brien’s conversion reduced the arrears to just two points and suddenly the home faithful were starting to get a bit twitchy.

Even more so when speedster Ashton Hewitt latched onto a smart kick through for the Dragons’ second to take them into the lead for the first time.

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The Falcons’ response was immediate, turning to their well-orchestrated line-out drive to get flanker Gary Graham over the whitewash on debut.

But the see-sawing nature of the contest continued when Pat Howard, barely on the field as a replacement for Hewitt, won the race to touch down an optimistic Sarel Pretorious kick through.

The Falcons had their fifth through skipper Mark Wilson 17 minutes from time and it was a lead they didn’t relinquish with a late Flood penalty securing the victory, but at least leaving the Dragons with a deserved bonus-point consolation.